Chapter 220
Chapter 220
Translation: godtl
Like the tentacles from before.
Dark crimson Demonic Energy oozed sluggishly through the crimson crevice of the door.
It wasn't just its appearance.
Gurgle.
Perhaps the seal had been completely broken.
The Demonic Energy that flowed out contained such a potent aura that it could make the deep waters of Azshita boil.
And then.
"Ah......."
Si-mun knew all too well what it meant for Demonic Energy to be not just pure, but dangerously so.
And it wasn't just Si-mun.
Screeeech!
His left eye—no, the demon eye integrated into Odin's Eye—was emitting a continuous, piercing tinnitus, flaring up uncontrollably.
Moreover.
'Baal and the Heavenly Demon reacted too. That settles it.'
The Constellations Baal and the Heavenly Demon.
Among the six Constellations who had taken an interest in him, these two shared one thing in common.
It was Demonic Energy.
'Beyond this...... lies the original Lemegeton.'
Si-mun could now be certain of what awaited beyond the Blood-red Abyss.
Then, into his ears—
—How in the world......
A voice tinged with bewilderment and awe reached him.
It was the Naga Princess, Ashaz.
—My King. Are you truly alright?
She stared at Si-mun with eyes full of disbelief as he remained unharmed despite the Demonic Energy oozing toward him.
And who could blame her?
'That is primordial Demonic Energy!'
The Demonic Energy seeping from the door of the Blood-red Abyss.
In the secret histories of the Naga royalty, this energy was described as primordial Demonic Energy.
—I knew Your Majesty could wield Demonic Energy, but even demons can be poisoned by it depending on its grade......
Even the demonkin, a race that wielded Demonic Energy, could lose their lives if the grade was too low—such was the nature of primordial Demonic Energy.
To Ashaz's concern, laced with distrust, Si-mun responded with a smile.
"I'm fine."
In fact, he even took a step forward.
"Actually, it feels rather comfortable?"
Before long, the Demonic Energy that had been sluggishly coiling around him now draped over Si-mun like a silken veil.
Astonishingly.
Sluuurp.
The primordial Demonic Energy, toxic even to demons, enveloped his entire body as smoothly as flowing silk.
As if it had always been a part of him.
At the sight of such effortless harmony—
—......So it seems.
Ashaz let out a hollow laugh and shook her head.
Then—
—Then I shall open the door.
Ashaz moved toward the door of the Blood-red Abyss.
But then.
Sluurp.
—Hm?
The Demonic Energy oozing from the crevice gently—yet firmly—blocked her approach.
Sluuurp.
Instead, another strand of Demonic Energy moved.
"Huh?"
It pulled Si-mun forward first.
Almost as if there was an order to entry.
At this bizarre spectacle where energy seemed to possess a will of its own—
—......It seems it would be best for Your Majesty to enter first.
Ashaz, torn between disbelief and reluctant acceptance, took a step back.
"W-Well, I guess so."
For some reason, Si-mun felt awkward and scratched his cheek before stepping toward the door of the Blood-red Abyss.
As if it had been waiting—
Creeeak.
With the sound of grinding stone, the entrance to the Blood-red Abyss opened.
Inside, like liquid scattered across the cosmos,
An immense amount of dark crimson Demonic Energy swirled at the center without the slightest fluctuation.
And at that center,
A familiar altar, resembling ancient Greek stonework, stood.
'It's exactly like when I saw the Ars Goetia during the Platinum Debut Match.'
Just like when he first encountered the Ars Goetia during his Platinum Debut Match,
The object atop the altar flickered between the forms of a book and a key with every blink.
However, there was one difference from back then.
'Half of it is red.'
Unlike the Ars Goetia, which had been entirely black,
The original before him now bore the same dark crimson hue as the Blood-red Abyss.
[Constellation Baal nods with an intrigued expression, muttering, Hmm.]
[Constellation Heavenly Demon clicks his tongue. To think it was hidden in a place like this. Solomon. That bastard was truly ruthless.]
[Constellations Zeus, Odin, Black Goat, and Ra nod in agreement.]
The reactions of the Constellations poured forth.
And then—
'Solomon, huh......'
For a moment, Si-mun mulled over the name Solomon.
'Even in my past life, he was a Constellation who only briefly appeared by name, without any sponsors. Is he famous among the higher-ranked Constellations?'
After briefly recalling his past life's memories,
'Well, he's just a minor Constellation for now. I can look into Solomon later when the time comes.'
With a slight shake of his head, he approached the altar.
Swish.
The original Lemegeton dispersed smoothly, as if it were made of gas.
Si-mun reached his hand toward it.
The gas, drawn by his hand, detached itself from the altar.
Then.
-"Wait a moment, Your Majesty!"
A frantic, awestruck voice rang out.
-"No matter what, directly touching it is dangerous!"
Though her gait was somewhat unsteady due to her missing arms,
Ashaz hurriedly tried to dissuade Si-mun with an urgent expression.
But before she could reach him.
-"Good... heavens......"
The mouth of the noble Naga princess gaped open.
And rightfully so.
'That's an object cursed by Baal, the highest-ranking Constellation of the Demon Realm...!'
Baal.
The number one ranked among the Demon Realm's Constellations, its strongest being.
Naturally classified as a God King-rank, he was an overwhelmingly powerful existence beyond description.
And an object cursed by such a being should, by all means,
-......
have been untouchable to anyone below the same Constellation rank.
That's how it should have been.
That's how it clearly was.
"Ashaz?"
Yet there was Si-mun,
casually floating the object in his palm as if it had always been his,
gazing back at her.
For a moment, Ashaz was at a loss for words.
-"...No, it's nothing."
When it came to Si-mun, she had completely shut away the concept of 'common sense.'
'Just like with the Olympus equipment... And since he even uses the Heavenly Demon Arts, it wouldn't be strange if he had some connection to Baal.'
Ashaz shook her head vigorously.
In truth, her prediction was spot on.
[The Constellation Baal nods silently with an "Hmm."]
The very source of the curse she had so feared—
The Constellation Baal actually wanted Si-mun to take the original Lemegeton.
However.
There was one difference from before.
[The Constellation Black Goat asks Baal,"Hey. Are you really sure about this? Wouldn't it be better to leave out the second chapter?"]
[The Constellation Ra nods in agreement."Indeed. (Let's not give that stubborn fool any pretext—let's just end this with the six of us!)"]
[The Constellation Baal ponders with an "Hmm..."]
Unlike when the 'Ars Goetia' was acquired earlier,
they didn't seem entirely pleased this time.
'Why are they reacting like this?'
Noticing the Constellations' lukewarm response, Si-mun immediately checked the information window.
[Ars Theurgia]
Grade - Mythic
The second chapter and key of the five-part Lemegeton.
Collecting all five will allow one to obtain the complete Lemegeton.
'The description isn't much different from Ars Goetia's.'
The information window was nearly identical to that of the first original, Ars Goetia.
Si-mun tilted his head in confusion but quickly dismissed it.
'Well, I'm still in the middle of the Promotion Match. I'll check it properly afterward.'
Since he was still in the middle of his Diamond Promotion Match,
Si-mun stored the Ars Theurgia in his inventory and stepped out of the sealed area.
At the entrance of the Blood-red Abyss.
Standing not just at the map's edge but at the very threshold of the abyss itself,
Si-mun turned to Ashaz and asked once more,
"Ashaz. Are you really sure it's alright for me to take this?"
-"Hoho. It is truly fine."
With a faint smile,
-"Ars Theurgia is an item only our queen would need. If anything, I am all the more pleased that Your Majesty has taken it."
she gracefully shook her head.
Yet, as if still uneasy despite her answer,
"I heard your queen has quite a... vicious temperament. If you return empty-handed, won't you be in danger?"
Si-mun asked with a concerned expression.
Was it an unexpected worry?
Ashaz blinked in momentary surprise before replying with a solemn expression,
-"Then, if I were to demand the Ars Theurgia to preserve my life... would Your Majesty be able to give it to me?"
Surprisingly,
"Of course."
Si-mun's answer came without hesitation.
So unexpected was his response that
-......
Ashaz's lips parted slightly as she fell into silence.
Then, breaking the quiet,
-"Might I... dare to ask why?"
she inquired in a voice trembling faintly.
"Because you're my comrade, Ashaz. If it can save your life, an item like this isn't something I'd regret losing."
Si-mun grinned as he answered.
Of course,
'It's not like I'm short on Mythic-grade equipment anyway. And with my alchemy still improving, I can always make more if needed.'
For Si-mun, who already possessed numerous Mythic-grade weapons, there was nothing to regret.
And with his own means to compensate, it was an easy promise to make.
But for Ashaz, unaware of these facts,
-"A comrade......"
All she could do was repeat his words in a voice even shakier than before.
As if lost in deep thought—
"So that is your...will."
Muttering softly to herself, she soon raised her head.
"...I understand the King's intention well now."
Though her eyes retained the Naga's characteristic sharp ferocity, there was something newly resolute in them—a clarity and determination as she gazed at Si-mun.
Then,
Ashaz, now wearing an uncharacteristic smile,
"There's no need to hand it over to me. It was merely a jest to begin with."
With a playful gesture, she lightly shook her upper body.
"As you can see, I've already secured an excuse to avoid the Queen's reprimand."
Her bare shoulders rippled through the water.
At this, Si-mun also chuckled.
"Really? Don't come complaining later that you feel slighted."
He responded with an equally mischievous smile.
"Hoho. I can't promise you that. A woman's heart is as fickle as seaweed, after all."
Returning the same smile, Ashaz bowed gracefully.
"Then I shall take my leave now. I look forward to the day we meet again."
"Take care on your way."
As Ashaz turned to leave—
"Ah."
Her retreating figure paused momentarily.
She turned back to look at Si-mun.
"Congratulations on your Diamond promotion. Truly."
With those words of blessing, spoken in an ethereal voice—
[Time limit has expired.]
[The Diamond Promotion Match has concluded.]
The announcement signaling the Arena's closure arrived.
A building in Gangnam, Seoul.
"Hmm~"
A blond man hummed cheerfully as he strode briskly down the sleek high-rise corridor.
'Once I get this approved, I can enjoy a lovely evening with Selie... Hehe!'
His smile lingered as he pictured Selie, the black-haired woman with a neat ponytail who had recently transferred to the Korean branch.
The woman whose signature would seal his early departure from work.
"...Noona. What are you doing?"
That was, until he saw his sister.
To be precise—
"What's with those documents? They're exactly the same as the ones I gave you at lunch!"
Or rather, the towering pile of paperwork on her desk.
Despite his younger brother's rude tone and accusatory finger-pointing,
The golden-haired woman in her impeccable office suit, not a strand of hair out of place—
"......"
Olivia simply stared blankly at one spot.
Oliver, who had been ready to vent, naturally followed his sister's gaze.
And saw.
[Ah, my apologies everyone. There's something I need to attend to, so the stream will pause briefly.]
The man who had shaken the world.
The man who had even unsettled the so-called "Winter Queen," his devil of a sister.
[I've been promoted to Diamond-rank. Thank you all so much for your support.]
"Kim Si-mun?"
Kim Si-mun.
Oliver's expression grew increasingly bizarre as he stared at the screen.
"Don't tell me... you've been watching Kim Si-mun's stream all this time?"
Finally—
"You even postponed your work for this?!"
Oliver's face twisted in shock.
And rightly so.
'Even when the New York Outbreak happened, she finished signing her documents!'
Though the outbreak itself hadn't been particularly large,
Outbreaks had been rare since the Galaxy Arena's emergence.
At the time, the atmosphere across America had been downright chaotic.
Countless cults and doomsayers ran rampant, to say the least.
Yet, during that nationwide uproar,
His sister, who had handled her duties with surgical precision, was now neglecting work over an Arena stream?
"Say something, damn it!"
Oliver's outburst seemed to have an effect.
"Eek!"
Bang!
Olivia shot up from her seat.
Instinctively—
"Gah!"
Oliver raised his guard, bracing for impact—but nothing came.
The reason was simple.
"No... Noona?"
His devil of a sister hadn't risen to punish him.
"Donations?!"
She had gotten up purely because of the screen on her desk—
Kim Si-mun's stream.
Oliver cocked his head at his sister's rare display of astonishment.
'Donations?'
It wasn't as if she was new to watching promising players' streams.
Hadn't Olivia herself received plenty of donations during her own Arena matches?
What was so shocking about that?
Approaching her desk with that thought—
"Holy... shit!"
He mirrored his sister's shock—
No.
His reaction was even more extreme.
And for good reason.
[?? Dimensional?????? has donated 1,000,000 AP.]
=You. Are you truly of the human race?
The name wasn't even properly displayed.
Yet, the donation message floating on screen was unlike anything ever seen on Earth.
And not just that—
[???? Dimensional?? has donated 1,000,000 AP.]
=I'm curious which dimension you belong to.
"[??? Dimension's?????? has donated 1,000,000 AP.]"
=You there. Any chance you'd consider defecting to our dimension?
With AP worth over 10 billion when exchanged, no less.